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The old IHG Select Card (closed to new applicants) had the unique distinction of appealing to free agent travelers who not only weren’t loyal to IHG, but also might have held elite status with a competing hotel chain. When Chase launched the IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card to replace the Select, it narrowed the audience of interested applicants, but doubled down on new perks and bonus categories that are more rewarding for IHG customers. With the Premier card now offering an all time high sign-up bonus of up to 120,000 points, now is the perfect time to take a deep dive through this newer card offering.

Who Is This Card For?

This means that adding it to your wallet is a tougher decision, and as such, this card is much better suited to loyal IHG travelers who will be able to take full advantage of the card’s complimentary Platinum elite status, fourth night free on reward stays, 10x points on IHG purchases and more.

Current Bonus

The IHG Premier card is jumping on the bandwagon as the latest card to offer a tiered sign-up bonus that encourages more spending over a longer period of time. New applicants can earn up to 120,000 points: 80,000 after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months and another 40,000 after spending a total of $5,000 in the first 6 months.

While 10x points might sound like a great multiplier, remember that at 0.5 cents each that’s only a 5% return. If you booked your IHG stays with a Chase Sapphire Reserve instead, you’d “only” earn 3x points per dollar, but Chase Ultimate Rewards points are much more flexible and valuable, as you can transfer them to various travel partners (including IHG) and you’d end up with a 6% return based on TPG’s valuations.

“There are no blackout dates for Reward Nights; however, room inventory is limited and subject to prior sale. In addition, Members may not be able to redeem Points for Reward Nights at InterContinental Residences.”

You can use points for a stay at the InterContinental Phu Quoc. Photo by Katie Genter/The Points Guy.

You’ll also have the option to mix points and cash for your award stays, and the rates are fairly decent. When you book this way, IHG actually sells you the extra points at the price listed, and then debits your account the full number of points. In the example below at the InterContinental Shanghai Ruijin, points + cash bookings value IHG points at about 0.6-0.7 cents each. IHG frequently sells points at this price (or cheaper), which can be another good way to top up your account.

IHG also runs a promotion several times a year called PointBreaks that discounts award nights at select properties. The quality of the list and the amount of the discount have both eroded over the years (don’t expect to see any InterContinental hotels for 5,000 points a night), but you can still find some decent values around the world with this deal. Just remember the (limited) award space at these hotels goes quickly, so don’t wait to book!

Perks

The IHG Premier card comes with a relatively modest annual fee of $89 a year and no foreign transaction fees. It offers a number of perks to offset that cost:

Fourth Night Free On Award Stays — If you can find four nights of consecutive award space at a property you like, this can be a great way to get a 25% discount and stretch your points even further. If you use this even once a year, it should more than recoup your annual fee.

Which Cards Compete With The IHG Premier?

If you’re loyal to IHG, another hotel’s credit card won’t be a direct competitor. Instead, the IHG Premier Card’s biggest competition is from other cards that might be more deserving of your limited 5/24 slots with Chase.

The first is the IHG Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card, which offers an even lower annual fee of $29 and fewer benefits. It’s currently offering a welcome bonus of 60,000 points after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months and only earns 5x at IHG hotels for an uninspiring 2.5% return. You’ll still enjoy no foreign transaction fees and a fourth night free on award stays, but there’s no anniversary free night, which is where most of the IHG Premier Card’s value comes from.

If you’re under 5/24 and don’t already have it in your wallet, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card might be a better value for you. The $95 annual fee is comparable to the $89 annual fee on the IHG Premier, and in exchange you get double points on travel and dining. The Ultimate Rewards points earned with the Sapphire Preferred are much more valuable than IHG points since you can redeem them for a host of different flight or hotel options instead of limiting yourself to a single chain.

Bottom Line

Even though it’s offering an all-time high sign-up bonus of 120,000 points, unless you’re an IHG loyalist, the IHG Premier card could be a tough sell for one of your valuable 5/24 slots with Chase. Between the 40,000-point limit on the anniversary free night certificate and the fact that 120,000 points are only worth $600, you can probably do better.

Still, if you’re a loyal IHG traveler looking for a shortcut to Platinum elite status, a fourth night free on award stays and a large bonus multiplier for IHG stays, you might find room for this card in your wallet.

Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

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The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Please view our advertising policy page for more information.

Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Please view our advertising policy page for more information.

Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.